Lading strap fastening means



June 10, 1952 E. P. SMITH 2,599,873

LADING STRAP FASTENING MEANS Filed March 2, 1950 i216? J9; A A A A IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 10, 1952 IQF FFICE I H I. I sTBfet ig r nnme Means i V v Edward -Payson. "Smith, Winnetka, 111., assignmto Illinois Railway Equipment Gom-pany, Chi- M8 invention relates to means whereby the serious types of lading anchoring Zstraps may be readily and securely fastened to certain typeset railroad cars, such as the gondola type; the invention.zprovidinglsimple means which can be readily applied to the metal portions or walls of the freight car.

The invention has for its object the .provision -of tie strap fastening means "which will respond to the direction of pull by the straps without subjecting the tie straps to undue or tearing strains; the tie strap fastening means being so I angle bars arranged,- in parallel relation -and formedand mounted that a minimum number of units may "be employed and the units so located as not to interfere with loading and unloading operations of the car.

The aforementioned objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l'is a top plan view of one end of a gondola type railroad car, portions being broken away, illustrating certain of my improved fastening elements applied to the car top chord.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, of a portion of the top chord of the type of car shown in Figure 1; adjustment of the means to the direction of pull of the tie strap being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

In the shipment of large or bulky pieces of lading in open top or gondola cars, it is customary to secure such lading against undesirable and violent shifting, through the use of tie rods or metal straps which are secured in some manner to the metal walls of the car, and for want of strap anchoring spots on this type of car, shippers have frequently resorted to burning holes in the side walls of metal gondola cars for passage of the tie rods or straps. This destructive method not only weakened the car walls, but unfitted the car for shipment of certain commodities and put the railroads to considerable expense and loss of car service.

My invention contemplates strap anchoring means which may angle to the direction of the strap pull-land which will not hinder or interfere with the loading and unloading operations and will also leave the car walls imperforate.

In the efxempliflcation, the bulb or top chord of the car. wall is shown somewhat Z-shape in cross-section as shown at In in Figure 3; either in the form of a single Z-bar or a pair of L-shape or welded together asshown in -Figure 3 ,;at l I The ,Z-shapechord is arranged with; one leg 'of :the :chord disposed downward on (the inner f'ace; of the car wall and the other side, or legof the chord extends vertically upward, as shown at 42 while the intermediateportion of the'chord extends horizontally across the ear side wallas shown at :13, I As clearly shown in Figure 3, the juncture between the sides or portions l2-and 4'3 -of the top -bulb;or chord provides ;a groove or cavity to receive the link l4, whichrpreferably is of triangular form v with the -.narrow or small end of'the link -arranged in the cavity; the link, being held in'place "by the short band -I 5.- Band [5, which, for the purpose of exemplification, is shown of circular, cross-section and bent to provide a vertical leg l5, a horizontal leg 15* and an intermediate sloping side l5, arranged at an obtuse angle to sides l5 and li in order to provide the link receiving cavity therebeneath. Side I5 is arranged parallel with and in contact with the leg or side 12 of the top chord and intimately connected thereto as by welding, indicated at "5; while leg or side it)' extends parallel with the horizontal part l3 of the top chord and is intimately secured thereto as by welding shown at ll.

In order to permit proper angling of the link l4, it is preferable, at least, that the intermediate or cavity spanning portion l5 be of circular cross-section or made arcuate on its lower or link engaging surface to enable free angling of the link.

A desirable number of these strap fastening links are intended to be provided at suitably spaced apart points as at I9 in Figure 1, prefer ably coincident with the car side posts, a portion of one being shown at [8.

- 2, and thus prevent undue twisting strains on the commodity tie straps.

. As is apparent, the links will accommodate themselves to a certain amount of shifting of the -lading during transit and still provide a direct *lThe fastening means preferably are secured where the car wall, in conjunction with a single pull or strain on the fastening rods or straps.

holding band l5, will provide a socket or cavity 3 for receiving the tapered or narrow end of th link,'and where the link l4 may, when not in use, extend parallel and in juxtaposition with a fiat wall or portion of the car where contact therewith is unlikely during loading and unloading operations.

I have described what I believe to be the simplest and best embodiment o'f -my invention, but certainmbdifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims. I

What I claim is:

1. Lading strap fastening means comprising the combination of angularly disposedportionsof an open-top car side walls, whereby a socket permit the link to have swiveled action; and a link retaining strap disposed through said link across said juncture and formed to span said socket, with the ends intimately secured, respectively, to the horizontal and to the vertical portions of the top chord so as to permit the link to angle laterally.

" 3,."Lading" strap fastening means 'fofigondoIatype railroad cars provided with an'angular .top

chord consisting of a horizontal portion and a vertical up-standing portion; a triangular shaped link with an arcuate apex end and said apex end of the link arranged in the socket formed by the 'juncture of two portions of said chord; and a is provided; a bent holding strapwhose ends extend parallel with the respective angularly disposed car wall portions and are immovably secured thereto while the intermediate portion of said strap spans said socket and provides a closure for the socket; and a link loosely seated in "said socket, in'straddling relationwith said holding strap, and arranged to extend flush with one of the car wall'portions when not in operative position'. i r 2. Lading strap fastening means for gondolatyp'e railroad cars provided with an angular top chord consisting of a horizontal portion and a vertical' portion; a triangular shaped link with substantially straight sides connected with each other by arcuate junctures with one of the 'junctures at the apex end of the link arranged in the socket formed by the juncture of the horizontal and vertical portions of said top chord so as to link retaining strap disposed through said link and formed to span said socket, the intermediate portion of the strap which passes through the link being of arcuate cross-section to permit the link to automatically swing into parallel relation with the horizontal portion of the top chord,

while-the ends ofthe strap are intimately securedyrespectively, to the horizontal and vertical portions of said top chord so as to permit the-link to angletlaterallyd I EFAYSONsMITriL REFERENCES CITED' The. following referencesare ofr'ecord in-the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- ,Name Date 2,312,119 Nystrom et-al. Feb. 23,1943 2,449,300

Jones Sept. 14,1948 

